By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Eric Dupree, a part-time driver for former State Sen. Larry Young and radio show co-host, died suddenly at the age of 42.
“I’ve known him for just under two-and-a-half years,” Young told the AFRO on Jan. 2. “After I had an amputation, losing my lower right leg…I could not use my car unless I had a driver. After a little search, he was referred to me and came on board. He worked part time for the last 26 months.”
Alongside Young, Dupree helped host “In Conversation with Larry Young” from 10-11 a.m. on Mondays on Radio One’s WOLB 1010 AM. On the show he passionately discussed sports and politics. Young said he would also help with podcasting.
Dupree endeavored to start a sports podcast this month, but didn’t get to launch it.
Young shared that Dupree was about giving Black people a fair opportunity to succeed.
“Particularly, he had a concern about the crime situation in the city,” said Young. “He thought that before we start attacking the other folks we need to be concerned on why we’re attacking each other in the community.”
Young also described him as punctual.
“If he said 7 o’clock, he meant it,” said Young.
“For 42 years of age, to [die] is shocking,” Young said. “I saw Eric, the evening before he [died]. He left after dropping me off and the next morning at 11 a.m. I got a call from his mother and his brother. They found him in his apartment, dead.”
According to the Baltimore County Police Department: “On December 19, officers responded to the 12300 block of Pulaski Hwy, for reports of a cardiac arrest. Once on the scene, officers located an adult male who was later pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel. The male was identified as Eric Dupree.”
Dupree’s mother, Princess Dupree, spoke with the AFRO about what she experienced on that day.
“I was actually picking him up to go to work that Thursday morning,” said Princess Dupree. “I got there at about 10:45 a.m. I knocked on the door, the dog was barking, knocked on the windows, called his phone and nothing.”
Worried, Dupree explained the situation to a woman who manages the property Eric lived in, who then was able to open his door and do a welfare check.
“She said he’s on the floor,” said Princess Dupree. “I went straight in. I’m screaming ‘Somebody call 911’ and I decided to touch him. I was feeling to see if he would wake up, and when I touched him he was very cold. The lady that let me in, said ‘He’s gone.’”
The grieving mother said she and the rest of her family are struggling with Eric’s death, particularly given its proximity to Christmas.
“Eric passed away at one of the most difficult times, during the holiday season, and it has been unbearable,” said Dupree. “Day to day is a struggle.”
Family and colleagues described him as well loved and an overall “nice guy.”
“Growing up, Eric was always the cool brother,” said Todd Sheridan, Dupree’s younger brother. “He knew all of the popular music, sports. He was so smart and that inspired me to get good grades my entire educational career.”
“My father wasn’t around as much so Eric was like a brother and a father,” said Sheridan. “He’s definitely going to be missed.”
The family says they still don’t quite understand what happened.
“We don’t know why he passed. We don’t have answers. There’s been a lot of tests. At this point, it’s sudden. He’s 42; it just doesn’t seem right,” said Dupree.
Eric Dupree was born and raised in Baltimore. He assisted the Greater Baltimore Community Chapter of the National Action Network (NAN), a civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Dr. Al Sharpton in 1991, from time to time. Young previously served as the president of the Baltimore chapter of NAN.
“When he could, he would be active with the Greater Baltimore Chapter of NAN activities,” said Young. “Before this past Christmas he helped us with our toy drive. He helped us with the Thanksgiving food drive that we conducted.”
Due to the sudden nature of Dupree’s death, the family is seeking financial help to ensure they honor Eric’s life. Sheridan set up a GoFundMe for Eric that is currently 45 percent of the way to their goal of $10,000.
“We need help,” said Dupree. “Our family was not prepared.”